You’ve probably seen us advertising our special Triplepoint Blend Pro-Biotic for quite some time now. We always say that it’ll be great for your pond, and used in conjunction with aeration you’ll have just that much of a better chance at getting control over that irksome algae problem. For most of the population that is ignorant to such things, this raises the question…

What is Pro-Biotic?

The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization define probiotics as: “Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.” Some of the most commonly used probiotics are lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, yeasts, and some bacilli.

Now for those of you who haven’t taken the time to brush up on your biology lately, this may seem like the opposite of “demystifying.” Luckily for you, I’ll look to explain this mystical “probiotic” without the use of terms like bifidobacteria and bacilli. What you’ll hopefully find is that the idea behind using probiotic to help digest nutrient and eradicate algae from your pond is very relatable and understandable.

Using the definition from above, let us consider the probiotics to be the “live microorganisms” (since that’s what they are) and your algae-ridden pond to be the “host.” While your pond is not living in the sense that an animal lives and breathes, it is still a living ecosystem that is adversely affected by detriments similar to the way a human is affected by, say, a flu bug. In the case of your green-topped pond outside, algae-forming nutrients are the equivalent of a flu bug, allowing algae to spread dangerously, compromising the health of your pond with each day that it’s allowed to expand over the surface. These nutrients are the result of fertilizers, fish and animal waste, runoff from streets, et cetera, flowing into your pond. (It should be noted that 5-10% coverage of algae is considered healthy, but anything beyond that should be avoided.)

There are times when the natural bacteria that exist in your pond are simply not strong or plentiful enough to rid the pond of the influx of algae-forming nutrients (mostly nitrogen and phospohrous). The natural, decomposing bacteria can only break it down at a certain pace, and if the influx is greater than that pace, a buildup of nutrients forms. As the buildup continues to grow, the bacteria fall further and further behind, algae begins to collect, and you can end up with a massive coverage in a matter of weeks, or sometimes even days.

It’s a similar concept to that of the human body. Sometimes your body simply isn’t strong enough to fight off whatever ailment has befallen it. Every once in awhile you need an extra boost, usually in the form of medication. These drugs then fight off the ailment along with our antibodies, and eventually allow your body to become healthy again. The same is true for your pond.

And this is where probiotic comes in. Just as a medication administered to the human body is specified for a certain purpose, or to cure a certain ailment, probiotic is the same way. Triplepoint Blend Pro-Biotic is a collection of bacteria and enzymes specifically designed with one purpose: to digest the organic matter that fuels algae growth.

Just as the definition from FAO/WHO indicates, when probiotic is added to the host (AKA: your pond), it offers a health benefit. In this case, probiotic essentially acts as reinforcement, called in to aid the native bacteria in the digestion of algae-forming nutrients. They provide the necessary boost and help to decrease the overall algae coverage. This adds the benefit of aquatic plant photosynthesis since the sun is able to penetrate the surface, which contributes to a higher dissolved oxygen content, which leads to healthier fish, less obnoxious pond odor, and overall a much healthier, happier aquatic ecosystem.

At the concept’s roots, it’s all biology—it’s all related even though one is in reference to your personal health and the other to your pond. The same biological concepts and ideas apply to each situation. Now, this year when you throw your annual Pro-Biotic Party and someone asks you how the heck that Pro-Biotic works to help your pond, you’ll be able to explain it to them in a way that all can understand.

Quick Note: Pro-Biotic is only at its most effective when it is used in conjunction with aeration. If there is not adequate aeration, the dissolved oxygen content is often too low and the Pro-Biotic will not have the oxygen it needs in order to go through the necessary chemical reactions that are used to break down algae-forming nutrients.